Mus-e Brings Contemporary Art into Italian Primary Schools

Mus-e, founded in 1994 in Switzerland by violinist Yehudi Menuhin, integrates contemporary art with pedagogy in Italian primary schools since 1999. The Genoa branch, coordinated by Rossana Antiga, involves visual artists Ale Cavalli and Stefania Schubeyr, performer Olivia Giovannini, and musician Francesca Pasini. They work in interdisciplinary teams (dance, visual arts, music) to foster integration, communication, and creativity among children, especially immigrants or those from difficult backgrounds. The project culminates in exhibitions like "Mus-e sì Mostra. Documenti dell'immaginario" at the Chiostro di Sant'Agostino in Genoa (2017), where children's painted cloths were displayed in historic villas. Artists emphasize that children's spontaneous creativity can teach contemporary art to value 'mistakes' as creative potential. Mus-e aims to become a permanent school program, including teacher training and family involvement.